Chicago neighborhoods getting more bike corrals

CHICAGO — Chicago is adding bike racks across the city in hopes of bringing more cyclists out to shop at neighborhood businesses.

In a statement, the Chicago Department of Transportation says it will install 25 on-street bicycle parking corrals in neighborhood business corridors this summer.

Gabe Klein is commissioner of CDOT. He says bike corrals make it more convenient and inviting for people to ride a bike to a local business. Klein says removing bicycles from the sidewalk also makes for a nicer place to walk.

Local businesses and chambers of commerce are covering the cost of the bike corrals.

Klein says studies in Toronto and San Francisco found that cyclists tend to visit local merchants more often and spend more per month than motorists.